James Edward Whitfield Sr.

James Edward Whitfield Sr. (known lovingly by family as “Jiggs”) was born the last child of ten to James Edgar Whitfield and Julia Bell (Sutherlin) Whitfield on August 9, 1921. At the tender age of 13, James accepted Christ as his personal savior and was baptized at Broyles Chapel in Sullivan, Indiana. Following his commitment to Christ, James became a bible scholar. He professed the word of God through his work as a deacon, youth leader and Bible Study teacher at various churches, the Terre Haute Orphan’s Home and for Child Evangelism. Throughout his life, he was faithful in financially supporting the work of Christ through contributions to various ministries such as Cedine Bible Camp and Jews For Christ. James was definitely a 2nd Timothy 4:6-8 man who fought the good fight, finished his race and kept his faithfulness to his Lord and Savior!!

James graduated Carlisle High School in 1939 after having served as class president and the school’s track and basketball star. At his 50th class reunion in 1989, James was honored and re-elected class president. After high school, James graduated from the National Radio Institute of Washington, D.C. in radio and television. Shortly thereafter, he started the Whitfield Radio and Television Repair Service in Terre Haute, IN. Later, he worked at the New Port Army Depot near Terre Haute where he gained experience to become an electrician for Allis Chambers Manufacturing Co. In 1962 James became the first UAW journeyman electrician for Delco Electronics in Kokomo, IN and retired from there in 1984.

James was an extremely witty, intelligent, handsome and God honoring man!! Anyone who met him, left his presence with a smile! He came from very humble beginnings and achieved numerous unimaginable accomplishments due to his hard work, persistence and God’s many blessings on his life. One of his proudest accomplishments was his ability to send all four of his children to college.

On December 20, 1941, James married the love of his life, Ernestine Roslyn Stewart who remained his loving and faithful partner until the time of her death in 2006. Their union was blessed with five children: Darlene Whitfield, James E. Whitfield, Jr., MD., David R. Whitfield, Phillip L. Whitfield, MD, and Cheryl E. Whitfield. James was preceded in death by his wife, parents, three brothers , six sisters, two sons, an infant daughter, Darlene Whitfield, and a grandson, David S. Whitfield. He will forever be cherished by his surviving family members, Phillip L. Whitfield, MD of Cape Code, Massachusetts and Sanibel, FL, daughter Cheryl E. Whitfield of Fishers, IN, ten grandchildren- Kristian Harris, Dantra Finkler, Holly Whitfield, Cheryl Whitfield, Justin Whitfield, Jessie Copeland, Chad Whitfield, Kelly Manning, Verne Dickerson, Adam Whitfield and several great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Saturday, January 22, 2022 at Sunset Memory Garden Funeral Home 2097 West Alto Road Kokomo, Indiana 46902. Entombment will follow at Sunset Memory Garden Mausoleum Chapel of Peace in Kokomo, Indiana. Visitation will be 12:00 PM-2:00 PM Saturday, January 22, 2022 at the funeral home. Share a memory with the family www.sunsetmemorygarden.com.